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🇨🇷 Costa Rica — iGaming · Territorial Tax · MEIC Permit

Costa Rica — MEIC licence.

Costa Rica's Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) issues a data-processing permit that underpins one of the fastest, lowest-cost routes to an offshore iGaming operation.

Timeline

4—8 wk

To permit issuance

Min. Capital

None

No minimum required

Year-1 Cost

€12.5—22.8K

Fully loaded, by package

Regulator

MEIC

Municipal Authority

01 — Is this right for you?

A considered route,
not a shortcut.

This jurisdiction rewards operators who treat the application as the start of a supervisory relationship.

A strong fit

When this is the right choice

Operators targeting international players outside Costa Rica

You want minimal regulatory overhead and a fast, low-cost launch without a formal gaming regulator — the Costa Rica model is built for this.

Fast, low-cost entry without a formal gaming regulator

A municipal data processing permit under the MEIC framework can be obtained in 4–8 weeks with no minimum capital requirement and no ongoing GGR tax.

Territorial tax structure — 0% on offshore-sourced revenue

Costa Rica's territorial system means income generated outside Costa Rica is not subject to local corporate tax. Only a fixed annual Law 9050 levy applies.

A poor fit

When to consider an alternative

Operators needing a recognised regulatory seal of approval

Costa Rica has no formal gaming regulator. Major B2B software providers and some payment processors require a formal licence (Malta, Isle of Man, Curaçao) rather than a data processing permit.

Platforms planning to accept Costa Rican residents as players

Legally prohibited. The permit authorises international clients only. Operators must geo-block Costa Rican IPs and residents — accepting locals creates legal exposure.

Operators requiring payment processor acceptance without extra compliance

Some tier-1 PSPs and acquiring banks require a formally licensed jurisdiction. A Costa Rican permit may require additional compliance steps or alternative processors.

02 — Licence categories

Permissions under
one Act.

Choosing the right tier and scope is the most consequential decision in the application.

Data Processing Permit

Municipal permit issued by MEIC for processing data and transactions on behalf of international clients. Covers casino, sportsbook, poker, eSports, and crypto gambling verticals.

Corporate Structure

Costa Rican SA or SRL company required. A local registered agent and legal address are mandatory. No requirement for local directors or shareholders.

03 — Path to grant

Phases to licence grant.

Corporate Formation

Week 1

SA/SRL incorporation with local registered agent and legal address in Costa Rica.

Bank & Merchant Accounts

Weeks 2–3

Opening business bank account and establishing payment processing relationships.

Data Processing Permit

Weeks 3–5

Application submission to the municipal authority. Review and permit issuance.

Platform Go-Live

Weeks 6–8

Integration checks, geo-blocking of Costa Rican IPs, and soft launch of platform.

04 — Year-one economics

Cost and regulatory
burden.

Year-one spend is dominated by substance — resident director, office, compliance officer, external audit — not the licence fee itself.

Cost item	Amount
Basic — Company formation + data processing permit	€6,500 one-time + €6,000/yr
Advanced — Basic + bank account + merchant setup	€11,600 one-time + €6,000/yr
Full — Advanced + compliance + ongoing support	€16,800 one-time + €6,000/yr
No government licence fee	Law 9050 annual levy only

No GGR tax on offshore revenues. Territorial tax system — 0% on income generated outside Costa Rica. Figures reflect typical year-one operational loadings.

05 — Common questions

What founders
ask before filing.

The questions we get on every diagnostic call. If yours isn't here, raise it in the consultation.

Costa Rica does not have a formal gambling licence — instead, operators obtain a municipal data processing permit under the MEIC framework. The model is based on territorial taxation: offshore-sourced revenue is exempt from Costa Rican gaming tax. This has supported a thriving iGaming industry for over two decades.

No. Operators must geo-block Costa Rican IP addresses and residents. The permit authorises processing transactions for international clients only. Accepting local players creates legal exposure.

Costa Rica uses a territorial tax system: income generated outside Costa Rica is not subject to local corporate tax. A fixed annual levy under Law 9050 applies to the data processing permit. There is no GGR tax on offshore revenues.

The permit covers online casino, sportsbook, poker, eSports, and crypto gambling — all targeting international players. There is no restriction on game types provided players are outside Costa Rica.

Costa Rica offers the fastest, lowest-cost entry into iGaming with no minimum capital and no formal regulator oversight. The trade-off is reputational: major payment processors and B2B software providers sometimes require a formal licence (Malta, Isle of Man, Curaçao) rather than a Costa Rican permit.

Ready when you are

Tell us where
you want to
operate.

Forty-five minutes with a partner. Jurisdiction memo within seven days. No retainer required to start.

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45 min

First call with a partner.
No retainer required.

Costa Rica — MEIC licence.

A considered route,not a shortcut.

When this is the right choice

When to consider an alternative

Permissions underone Act.

Data Processing Permit

Corporate Structure

Phases to licence grant.

Corporate Formation

Bank & Merchant Accounts

Data Processing Permit

Platform Go-Live

Cost and regulatoryburden.

The fastest, lowest-cost iGaming entry point globally.

What foundersask before filing.

Often consideredalongside this.

Tell us whereyou want tooperate.

A considered route,
not a shortcut.

Permissions under
one Act.

Cost and regulatory
burden.

What founders
ask before filing.

Often considered
alongside this.

Tell us where
you want to
operate.